Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Ditto on the apple/bacon/cheese combo - I use spreadable brie, Granny Smiths and add honey mustard on whole grain ciabatta.

To Jerzee -
People choke on food all the time - and I'd bet it's more often sober than drunk. Little kids and old people alone must have the majority - should we starve them? Lighten up. Have a beer - football's on.

Maybe it's my only child syndrome, but I have absolutely no problem eating alone - I just usually bring a book to supplement the lack of conversation. Besides, when I was a big business traveler, it was that or room service (which was usually more expensive than my per diem, and less tasty than local food. I mean, it's just not right to skip a Po Boy in New Orleans or BBQ in Nashville because of a phobia.

I do, however, usually sit at the bar. Sometimes for the conversation, and sometimes to eyeball the bartender when I get an unwelcome (i.e. "hitting on me") neighbor.

For the record, I'm cool with going to the movies solo too - it's not like you're talking to anyone during them!

B-MALT: 2 pieces of toasted Sourdough with bubbly brown melted Muenster stuffed with avocado, tomato, lettuce, red onion and mayo.

I was about to plug a savory bread pudding with challah, leeks, garlic, bacon and aged white cheddar (with half-n-half and eggs), but a lighter suggestion is blanched asparagus with shallots & dijon vinegarette (served cold).

After an initial sugar and cream-laden coffee when I started drinking it, my grandfather said to me, "If you're going to drink coffee, drink COFFEE," and I've been drinking black ever since. The only exception being Jameson, of course. So I'm mostly No Way.

Cold, raw and slimy. Think the Boss got the joke?

It's true that Americans are more stringent (paranoid?) about refrigerating cheese products. Europeans are much more relaxed. I do put my pizza in the fridge, but I insist on reheating in the oven only. However, I would have no qualms about tightly sealing (baggie, saran wrap) a cheese pizza and leavng it out over night. No bug/cat issues. Plus, I've traveled with string cheese or cheddar sticks for days without any problem.

Bleeker Street Pizza and a cupcake from Magnolia - both in the West Village - as is Gray's Papaya (hotdogs). All cheap and you can explore the shops. Also, Mario Batalli's restaurant Po is nearby, and it's suprisingly cheap for a gourmet "name" lunch. Don't think I'm crazy, but the Museum of Sex is a hoot and pretty affordable. Fun for a couple. A walk down to Ground Zero is worth it and free. Either stay downtown or buy a picnic and cruise through Central Park - stop at FAO Schwartz and the Guggenheim with a hot dog in hand.

Pies (pecan and pumpkin) made in advance and frozen. Same with proscuitto/provolone and puff pastry appetizers and the fixins for my mean, green guacamole. Load everything in the car and it survives the 7 hour drive from Pittsburgh to Long Island.

I guess I'm lucky from there - it's my aunt's house but we have team of 4-4 passionate chefs among the 16 of us, so it's fairly easy. After the 30 years I've experienced it, it's almost down to a science - we still have time to watch football, walk to the ocean and play appx. 2.5 innings of barely football in the yard before dinner at 5pm. Once the Bloody Marys start flowing around 2, I'd say we logged 2-3 hours of real work per person. The quickest part is the 7am dance with the turkey (yes, you heard me) before we start the roast - gotta go kosher for that one btw!

Veggie prep? Beyond frozen peas, we're carb- and carn-ivorous :)

Trying again - after a football game and a bloody mary chaser, we have a pretty pedestrian meal I 'spose:
- Turkey with herbs under the skin
- Mashed potatos and baked sweet potatos
- Creamed onions
- Classic bread/celery/onion stuffing
- Saurkraut (gift of my dad's - fantastic covered with gravy)
- Waldorf salad (yuck)
- Peas
- Rolls
- Cranberry sauce
- Pecan Pie
- Pumpkin Pie

Boring I'm sure, but my mouth is watering as I write this.

I like the Caribbean theme night.
Guacamole has been a family staple for years: avacado, red onion, plum tomato, fresh garlic, minced jalepeno, kosher salt, and lime juice. Corona and margaritas make a beach-worthy beverage.

I steer away from mayonnaise-based sides (due to the heat). A great dinner is a brown sugar/dijon//lime/rum glazed salmon with caribbean black beans and coconut rice.

Peel n' eat shrimp with Old Bay, grilled asparagas and key lime pie makes for a great meal. A marinated flank steak is great alone or in a fajita.

Other sides: Greek pasta salad (Moosewood has a recipe to die for), cold potato salads with a vinegar base can be lovely too (add tuna for a nicoise lunch meal the next day). Fruit kabobs are a refreshing dessert or snack.

Take me with you and I'll cook! :)